FOREIGN MINISTER CONCERNED BY HUGHES CANCELLATION

S E C R E T TUNIS 000230

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR R, NEA/FO - GRAY, AND NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CONCERNED BY HUGHES CANCELLATION

REF: A. GRAY/GODEC 1/30/07 EMAIL

B. 06 TUNIS 2856

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT F. GODEC FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: On February 13, Foreign Minister Abdallah
convoked Ambassador to express his concern about the
cancellation of a planned visit to Tunisia by Undersecretary
for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes. Abdallah referred to an
internal "report" prepared by MFA Secretary of State Chtioui
that suggested Ambassador, in a January 30 meeting with
Chtioui, had said U/S Hughes canceled due to a lack of
political progress in Tunisia. Ambassador explained that U/S
Hughes could not visit at this time due to scheduling issues,
but was open to a visit at another time. He continued that
his comments on Tunisia's political progress were designed to
give Chtioui a sense of the Washington's broad concerns
regarding Tunisia and were a general perspective. After
providing an overview of Tunisia's political progress and
willingness to support US priorities in the region, Abdallah
said Chtioui was to blame for his misunderstanding of the
context. END SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) After initial pleasantries, Foreign Minister
Abdelwaheb Abdallah said that he was "very surprised" by the
reasons for the Hughes cancellation as outlined in a report
prepared by MFA Secretary of State for Asia and the Americas
Saida Chtioui. (NOTE: On January 30, Ambassador briefed
Chtioui regarding Hughes' decision not to visit Tunisia (Ref
A). END NOTE.) Reading from the report (in French),Abdallah
quoted, "Hughes canceled her trip because Tunisia is not
making enough progress on political matters, particularly a
lack of liberty." Abdallah also noted Washington requests
for greater Tunisian support for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ambassador explained that the report was inaccurate and
clarified for the FM that Hughes had canceled for a variety
of reasons, including a busy schedule and other commitments.
He added that a visit at another time might be possible.
Abdallah said, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."


3. (S/NF) Ambassador went on to explain that he had used the
opportunity to explain to Chtioui current USG thinking about
Tunisia and the general Washington atmosphere. (NOTE: In the
meeting with Chtioui, Ambassador had also advised her that
Tunisian Ambassador to Washington Mohamed Nejib Hachana would
be directly informed about the Hughes cancellation.
Ambassador went on to say that, as he had recently worked in
Washington, he wanted to speak frankly with Chtioui about
Washington views regarding Tunisia and regional issues. END
NOTE.) Ambassador told Abdallah that Tunisia could and
should do more on political liberalization, stressing that if
Tunisia wants more USG high-level interaction, assistance and
support, the GOT must do more to show its political progress.
Ambassador also noted that Washington is deeply engaged with
many challenges in the region, including Iraq and the Middle
East Peace Process and would welcome further and more active
support from Tunisia.


4. (S/NF) Abdallah responded with a long explanation of
Tunisia's "slow but sure" political progress. Specifically,
Abdallah said that press freedom had noticeably increased in
the past two years and stressed that the level of press
freedom in the United States is unique in the world.
Ambassador noted that the recent establishment of a new
opposition party newspaper was a positive step (Ref B). On
regional issues, Abdallah said that Tunisia is "completely
ready" to support Iraq or Afghanistan through training
provided in Tunisia and funded by third parties. Abdallah
added that Tunisia "always helps" in the Arab League.


5. (S/NF) Abdallah closed by saying that he was pleased to
have spoken directly with the Ambassador, noting that he
believes Secretary of State Chtioui is always "too hard" and
that he may "ban" her from talking to foreign ambassadors.
Not wanting to take sides in an intra-MFA tiff, Ambassador
commented that perhaps he was not clear in his initial
conversation with Chtioui. (NOTE: Chtioui or her notetaker,
MFA Americas Director Holla Bachtobji, may have misunderstood
the framework of Ambassador's January 30 discussion, which
was conducted in English. END NOTE.)


6. (S/NF) COMMENT: Post has noticed increased MFA jockeying
for position in the past few months. MFA Chief of Staff
Hatem Atallah (former MFA DG for the Americas and Asia - A/S
equivalent and former Tunisian Ambassador to Washington),who
sat in on this meeting, has recently increased his
interaction with Embassy. Atallah has asked on multiple
occasions that sensitive bilateral issues (SOFA discussions,
Guantanamo detainee repatriation) be referred directly to him
for

action. Meanwhile, Chtioui (one of three Deputy Foreign
Ministers) has increasingly been marginalized, even
complaining that she did not meet with NEA/DAS Carpenter
during his January visit. (NOTE: Carpenter met with the
Foreign Minister, accompanied by the current MFA DG for the
Americas and Asia, Chtioui's subordinate, rather than
Chtioui. END NOTE.) Chtioui also implicitly complained to
DCM in December that her requests to take an official trip to
the United States (she has never been during her almost
5-year tenure as the MFA person in charge of the Americas)
are not acted on. When asked if rumored shake-ups at the MFA
will include her, she answers with words to the effect of,
"I'm sure you know more than I do about that." Atallah, who
has served as MFA Chief of Staff three times, may be hoping
to displace Chtioui, whose tenure in this position predates
FM Abdallah, as Secretary of State. Such a move
could positively impact US-Tunisian relations, as Atallah is
a seasoned diplomat with a strong understanding of Washington
priorities. END COMMENT.


7. (S) NOTE: Ambassador also used the meeting with the FM and
Atallah to cover several other priority issues, from
detainees to possible MEPI programs. These issues will be
covered in separate messages or by e-mail.

8 (S) BIO NOTE: Abdallah stressed how close Tunisians, and he
in particularly, feel to the American people. He said his
wife only watches US television programs and films, and that
he particularly enjoys "The Shield."
GODEC